Monday, July 10, 2017

Donegal Survive Battle Royal to Beat Meath

That was more like
it. Donegal were still a long way short of their best in edging out Meath on
Saturday night but there were pointers of improvement from their two
previous outings.

Many of the traits
associated with this team showed signs of reappearing – committing numbers to
attack, intensity in defence, quick transfer of the ball in tight spaces – and while
this was far from a blemish-free display, they left with what they came for,
the win.

After the dull football
witnessed by the masses in Ballybofey a week previously, this felt much more
like a Championship encounter; a sun drenched Summer Saturday evening in the
glorious setting of Pairc Tailteann.

The game was tight
and claustrophobic to being with. The teams were feeling each other out. Slowly
but surely it was the visitors who took control and the scores started to come.

Mark Anthony McGinley
had success early on in finding his players with his short restarts. Meath
attempted to push up but there was often a man free on the edge of the D.
Anytime the hosts managed to cover all options and McGinley was forced to go
long, the Meath midfield, led superbly by Bryan Menton, were winning the middle
third battle.

The dependency on going
short was illustrated with Meath’s first point from play. As the ball hung in
the air on its way goalwards, McGinley rushed around his right hand post to
grab a ball and his kicking tee, getting ready for the impending kick-out.

Unbeknownst to the
St Michael’s netminder, the ball was to
strike the upright and could have easily landed in front of his unguarded goal.
Fortunately the ball went over after the bar after striking the post.

It provides an
insight into the ongoing problems facing Donegal – if they’re forced to kick
long they’re vulnerable.

As usual though in
purely goalkeeping terms, McGinley was excellent. One crucial moment in the
game happened in the first half; as a Meath shot looked to be dropping over the
bar, McGinley rose high to claw the effort away and prevented what seemed a
certain point. In a game of such tight margins it was a magnificent piece of play.

Meath rallied
before half time to grab the last two points of the opening exchanges, the
sides going in level after Donegal had probably been the better side.

Youngsters Jason
McGee and Caolán Ward had been Donegal’s best performers in that first half
with McGee helping himself to two well taken points in the process.

Another plus was
Kieran Gillespie’s contribution. He’s had a frustrating time with injuries but
everyone is well aware of the quality and ruggedness he brings to the table and
getting the full seventy minutes under his belt bodes well.

In the second
half, it was the established brigade who made the difference. Michael Murphy
was immense around the middle and despite having an off day with his free
taking, the captain played a huge role in the win.

In the congested
centrefield area, when plenty Donegal players were happy to pass the ball on,
Murphy on a few occasions drove through the Meath rearguard and either scored
or setup up opportunities for his team mates.

Others like Ryan McHugh and match winner Paddy McBrearty were outstanding. The
Kilcar duo seemed to thrive in the high pressure environment, delivering when
it mattered most.

McHugh hasnt been
his normal stunning self in the last few matches, somewhat understandable given
that he’s barely put a foot wrong since his breakthrough young player of the
year winning season in 2014. A dip at some stage was perhaps inevitable but he
produced a massive final quarter in Navan, starting and finishing the move for
the crucial goal.

While form can be
a fickle thing with footballers, it doesn’t seem to apply to one man – Paddy McGrath.
Once again, he had a fantastic match, this time charged with keeping tabs on one
of the country’s most accomplished finishers, Graham Reilly.

In the second
half, Reilly simply could not break free from McGrath’s shackles. The one and
only time the Meath captain managed to get into a half yard of space for an
attempt on goal, McGrath flung himself at the shot, the ball flying high into
the evening sky and not even reaching the endline such was the pressure applied.

McGrath knew that
he was inside Reilly’s head by this stage. When the psychological battle has
been won by a defender, a forward will almost always snatch at the chance when
it comes his way.

McHugh’s goal
seemed to have finally broken the home team’s resistance but the Royals to
their credit refused to lie down and responded almost immediately. The two
goals were similar in the creation, both teams running the ball through traffic
before finding the opening.

It was encouraging
to see three Donegal players getting in behind the Meath defence and in a
position to finish the chance; a sign that the energy and drive were back after
being absent in the last two games.

Meath got the next
point after their equalising major and the outcome was in doubt to the end as
the embers began to fade on what was a stirring championship bout.

Karl Lacey was
brought on to steady the ship and in being a complete and utter nuisance in
slowing Meath down in the dying seconds, he played his part. When the final
whistle is blown on Donegal’s season, presumably it will also signal the end of
Lacey’s illustrious county career.

The Four Masters
legend obviously didn’t want it to end in the qualifiers and so he stood in
front of Paddy O’Rourke’s kickout following McBrearty’s winner and then
promptly dragged back a Meath defender when the kick was taken to earn himself
a yellow card. Dark arts indeed.

The final shrill
of the referee’s whistle sounded soon after and Donegal were through. Galway
await in Round 4 and despite a tough, sobering summer one win is all that’s required
for a place in the Quarter Finals.

If the same rate of
improvement that occurred from Longford to Meath, can accrue from Meath to
Galway then Rory Gallagher will be confident his charges can seal their place
in Croke Park.